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Purpose: This work is an extension of research on worker participation in achieving career success by including a prominent contextual construct, that is social capital. The present research aims to study how competency development influences the intrinsic career success of females in the handicraft industry, by considering the role of perceived employability as a mediator and social capital as a moderator. By doing so, this paper aims to fill the vacuum in the career literature that suggests that career success is not gender neutral. Design/methodology/approach: Data was collected from handicraft workers by adopting the survey method. CFA and SPSS macro named PROCESS were used to analyse data. Findings: Competency development influences the subjective career success of female workers, and perceived employability mediated the relationship between them. Moreover, social capital independently moderates the relationship between the participation of workers in competency development and perceived employability. Research limitations/implications: The study is conducted in the Indian context alone, and therefore future studies must be conducted globally to deepen the scholarly dialogue on female workers' career success. Also, the current study measures career success, from a subjective perspective, thus future studies can measure female workers' objective career success. Practical implications: The current paper identifies the need to study the factors contributing to female workers' career success in small industries. Social implications: Conventional industries and their workers' career success must be given equal importance by researchers, practitioners and policymakers. Originality/value: The paper fills the gap in career research by exploring female workers' career success through empirical evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - Up to now most of the research into flash flood disaster has examined scientific aspects of this natural phenomenon. This paper aims to focus on the flash flood disaster scenario of Uttarakhand, a newly created Himalayan State in India, on the basis of their severity and mechanism so that management efforts can be mounted by the disaster managers. Design/methodology/approach - Besides compiling the hazard- and risk-related work done by the various research institutions and universities the paper attempts to understand the mechanism responsible for this natural hazard. Findings - Uttrakhand is a state highly prone to disasters. Flash floods are disasters that are seasonal in nature and strike during a certain period of the year in certain pockets of the state with high frequency. Research limitations/implications - The analysis is based on observations made in the entire state. Practical implications - Awareness amongst the masses regarding the flash flood disaster that is likely to affect them and their life support strategy is a must for bringing forth voluntary adoption of the safety norms. Originality/value - Armed with the information about the hazards and their spatial distribution, the disaster managers in Uttarakhand may undertake certain preventive and mitigative measures for further strengthening and streamlining the Disaster Management System in the state and pave the way for similar activities in other states of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to attempt to put forth an innovative geographic information system (GIS)-based methodology for demarcating stretches of mountain roads with differential probability of road accidents. The proposed methodology has been tested in a sample road network of Uttarkashi district in Uttaranchal (India) and exhibits potential of reducing the frequency of road accidents by adopting suitable site-specific measures along accident-prone stretches. Design/methodology/approach - The paper is based on the hypothesis that road accidents in the mountain roads are largely due to the three basic road parameters that distinguish mountain roads from those in the plains; sinuosity, gradient, and width. The sinuosity of the road is calculated for every 500 meter stretch of the road map layer while for delineating the gradient of the road topographic data of Survey of India maps have been used. The paper utilises GIS-based environment for correlating these parameters and delineating accident-prone road stretches. Findings - The proposed new methodology for delineating differential accident risk in mountain roads has been utilised for demarcating road stretches with differential probability of road accidents and the output has been correlated with the actual road accident database of Uttarkashi district in Uttaranchal. The correlation exhibits the potential of this methodology for practical mitigative planning-related purposes. The same can also be utilised for better aligning the planned roads. Research limitations/implications - Human factor is the most important determinant of road accidents and non-incorporation of this parameter is the biggest limitation of the proposed methodology. Further, the effectiveness of the proposed methodology is the function of the validity of the hypothesis. The methodology is, however, highly flexible and has ample scope for accommodating other parameters as well. The effectiveness of the output is, however, a function of the accuracy of the input maps. Road layer considered in this paper has been prepared from the maps available with the State Government Department (Public Works Department) and their alignment does not depict the ground details. Input road layer prepared with precision Geographical Positioning System (GPS), preferably differential, mapping would produce more realistic results. The positions of the past accident sites for the purpose of correlations are taken from the data provided by the State Police Department and these are not very accurately determined. GPS-based database of the accident locations would help in effective correlations. Practical implications - The methodology proposed in this paper is an attempt to scientifically delineate differential accident-prone stretches of the mountain roads. This would pave the way for implementation of site-specific measures for reducing probability of road accidents and better aligning of the proposed roads. Originality/value - Previously a large number of workers have used GIS-based techniques for delineating hazard and risk related largely to landslides, floods and earthquakes but the same has never been employed for delineating road accident risk. The methodology is simple, unique, original and functional and has immense practical utility for reducing the menace of road accidents in mountain roads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to explore the relationship among organisation information technology support (OITS), knowledge sharing behaviour (KSB) and service innovation performance (SIP) in the context of the Indian Hospitality Industry (IHI). This study also attempts to examine the role of KSB as a mediator in the relationship between IT support and SIP and the firm age test as a moderating variable for service innovation performance. Design/methodology/approach: Proposed relations are empirically examined, and the study was carried out on 115 employees from 71 randomly selected hotels situated in the major five travel destinations of Uttarakhand state of India. Initially, confirmatory factor analysis was performed to validate the construct, afterword structural equation modeling (SEM)-Path analysis was accomplished. The researcher examines the mediation and moderation relations of the variables through statistical tests executed with the help of AMOS 24 and SPSS 26. Findings: The study result indicated that organisation IT support has a positive influence on knowledge sharing and SIP. The mediation result findings showed KSB is partially mediated between OITS and SIP. Sequentially, firm age moderation found the statistical results shown significant difference in young and old hotels. Research limitations/implications: This study only covers the aspect of the "knowledge sharing behaviour" dimension among the major organizations' IT support capabilities and examined both variables that might be anticipated in SIP. Considering this limitation, new areas of research investigation are open to future researchers. Practical implications: The study has both theoretical and managerial implications for academicians, practitioners and researchers. An attempt to conceptualise detailed insights on organisational IT support adaptation and KSB enhancement, which further leads to lifting SIP. Moreover, the study recommended for professionals to implement KM practices and mobilise the knowledge resources optimally to achieve better organizational outcomes. Originality/value: The study attempts to delineate the proposed relationship and provides valuable insights for practitioners and academicians by including the knowledge sharing dimension to improve the SIP context of the IHI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a research paper which investigates the earthquake safety elements constructed by people inhabiting in Uttarakhand, India. The research paper conducts radiocarbon dating of the wood that were used in the structure to determine the time of construction of the said safety structures. It also explores the investigations for the antiquity of the structures. Results of the investigations show that the region has existed with good earthquake-safe construction style, designated as Koti Banal architecture and attained zenith around 880 years ago.

Purpose - The purpose of the paper is to persuade all partners in disaster management to take action and create a pair of synergistic and invincible forces - government and people - that interact to bring about a reduction in the impact of natural hazards in Uttaranchal, India. Design/methodology/approach - There is an urgent need for a comprehensive tool to make the community aware of its right to safety. Today, policies and planning for disaster management are a State subject, in which the participation of the community is negligible. Therefore, disaster management has become supply-driven instead of demand-driven. Findings - A Citizen's Charter of Disaster Management is considered to be another appropriate tool to bring in citizen-centric governance. The Charter aspires to meet the present and anticipated needs of citizens in an efficient manner by eradicating errors and wastage through a scientific approach with participation between government and citizens. Research limitations/implications - The analysis is based on the experience gained over a period of seven years (1999-2005). The period is short for developing any hypothesis, but sufficient care has been taken to consider vital factors. Practical implications - With the help of the Citizen's Charter of Disaster Management, the quality of public services can be improved. To make society safer it is required that people should know the mandate of the Department of Disaster Management concerned, how one can get in touch with its officials, what to expect by way of services, and how to seek a remedy if something goes wrong. Originality/value - The Citizen's Charter of Disaster Management does not by itself create new legal rights, but it certainly helps in enforcing existing rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the barriers to coordination in humanitarian supply chain management (HSCM), proposes solutions and prioritizes them to overcome the barriers particularly in the Indian context. Design/methodology/approach – This study adopts a comprehensive and rigorous procedure to explore the barriers and solutions to coordination in HSCM. The research design is divided into three phases; first, the barriers and solutions are collected through an extensive literature review; second, barriers and solutions were verified with experts involved in relief operations of the disaster that occurred in Uttarakhand (a Northern state in India) on June 14, 2013 and finally, based on the weight of barriers estimated by fuzzy analytic hierarchy process, solutions to overcome the barriers are prioritized using fuzzy technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution that considers uncertainty and impreciseness rather than a crisp value. Findings – This study explored 23 barriers to coordination in HSCM and grouped into five categories i.e., strategic barriers, individual barriers, organizational barriers, technological barriers and cultural barriers, and finally 15 solutions were proposed and prioritized to overcome the barriers so decision makers can focus on overcoming these barriers and realize the benefits of coordination in HSCM. Practical implications – This study provides a more efficient, effective, robust and systematic way to overcome barriers to coordination and improve the competencies of humanitarian supply chain (HSC). Originality/value – This is the first kind of study that prioritizes the solutions to enhance coordination in HSC based on the weight of the barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this is to classify the social and economic factors which impact the involvement of women in self-help groups (SHGs) for their economic as well as social empowerment. Design/methodology/approach - The research has been conducted in Nainital district of Uttarakhand (India) in 2018. Primary data have been gathered from women respondent only on factors relating to the ownership of asset, housing characteristics and other demographic details. Both SHG and non-SHG women members have been chosen as key informants during the survey. Multi-stage purposive and stratified random sampling has been used for the selection of respondents and SHGs. The logit regression model has been formulated to describe the causes that influence the participation of women in SHGs. Also, an empowerment index has been constructed to measure the effect of SHGs on women empowerment. Findings - The results show that factors including age, education, family type and distance from the market have a significant impact on the participation of women in SHGs. Also, there is a significant difference in both these values which suggests that the value of the empowerment index gets significantly increased after joining the SHGs. Practical implications - Analytically derived factors have been used to develop an empowerment index. Hence, the present research is valuable for marketing practitioners, entrepreneurs and professionals from the development sector who intend to work amongst SHGs, primarily with women. The paper is valuable for academic researchers in this area so that the limited body of knowledge, on the empowerment index, could be developed. Originality/value - The present research is unique because the authors did not find work, especially in the context of rural India, in the said area. Factors impacting the participation of women in SHGs along with the impact of participation on empowerment have been explored using the logit regression model, leading to the development of an empowerment index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – For a state like Uttarakhand, which is located in the seismically active Himalayan region and in the vicinity of plate boundaries, estimation of seismic hazards and the preparation of a zoning map are an urgent necessity. This paper aims to focus on this hazard. Design/methodology/approach – In total, 32 potential seismo-tectonic source zones were identified in a very wide area in and around the state, on the basis of seismicity and tectonics, and the longer ones were segmented. The maximum magnitude that each seismo-tectonic source zone can support was then estimated. The seismic hazard due to each seismo-tectonic source zone was assessed at 180 sites, in terms of peak ground acceleration (PGA). Findings – The maximum PGA at each site varied between 0.06g and 0.50g. The seismic hazard was highest around the main central thrust and the main boundary thrust, and five other thrusts between these two thrusts. This assessment was adapted to make a seismic zoning map of Uttarakhand, with five distinct zones. Research limitations/implications – If seismo-tectonic source zones from the contiguous regions of Nepal and Tibet were included as part of this assessment, then a higher hazard would be expected in Uttarakhand. Practical implications – Threat perceptions of a potential earthquake disaster can be assessed in this zoning map. Disaster mitigation strategies will vary geographically, with priorities defined by the zoning map presented here. The methodology evolved has the potential to be extended to other vulnerable states in the Himalayan arc. Originality/value – The seismic hazard assessed has been adapted to formulate a seismic zoning map of Uttarakhand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to devise Uttaranchal's disaster management mechanism for reduction of effects of disaster, i.e. damage to property and loss of life and the rapid and effective rescue, relief and rehabilitation of the victims. Design/methodology/approach - Uttaranchal's location and geographical features render it vulnerable to minor changes. Hence any activity disapproved by mountain ecosystem triggers a disaster. One cannot stop disaster happening but can certainly take some steps to reduce its effects. If disasters cannot be averted, then reduction of losses of any type caused by disaster becomes a focal point of the policy for disaster management. Findings - The study reveals that 83 villages in Uttaranchal need rehabilitation but, to date, Uttaranchal has no resettlement and rehabilitation policy. In India only three States, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab, have state-wide resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R) policies. Other States have issued Government Orders or Resolutions, sometimes sector-wide but more often for specific projects. Research limitations/implications - The study is based on secondary data; however, sufficient care has been taken to consider all important factors while suggesting Rehabilitation Policy for Uttaranchal State. Practical implications - A disaster of rare severity requires a high level of resettlement and rehabilitation assistance from the State. Sound Resettlement and Rehabilitation Policy helps the Government to tackle the problem immediately and efficiently. Originality/value - The study suggests a Resettlement and Rehabilitation Policy for Uttaranchal State. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: India has taken a successful step towards meeting Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by providing access to basic amenities such as safe drinking water, waste management, drainage systems and bio-compost pits in households. The purpose of this study is to identify factors that significantly impact access to such basic amenities in villages in two states in the hilly regions of India. Design/methodology/approach: Village-level secondary data collected from the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) website has been analyzed using multiple linear regression and non-parametric statistical tests. Socio-economic and demographic variables are the independent factors in regression whereas availability of basic amenities is the dependent variable. Findings: Findings reveal that in Himachal Pradesh, gender ratio, annual income per family, percentage of BPL households, percentage of pucca houses, and percentage of village population above graduation, significantly impact access to piped water in village households. Also, literacy rate and percentage of population with education above graduation significantly impact availability of compost pits. Further, in Uttarakhand, percentage of pucca houses influences access to waste collection system and availability of compost pits. Availability of drainage systems is influenced by literacy rate. A comparison between the two hilly states reveals that Himachal Pradesh is better off in terms of ease of access to drinking water whereas Uttarakhand is ahead in terms of other amenities. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, no other studies have used socio-economic and demographic variables to study access to basic amenities in villages in hilly states in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Through a thematic analysis, this research study aims to examine the role of microfinance institutions (MFIs) and self-help groups (SHGs) in empowering rural women and their contribution to financial inclusion in India. Sustainable development can be achieved when resources are equally available and accessible for all, irrespective of gender differences. Design/methodology/approach: For qualitative research, the response was collected through focused group discussion and gathered responses from members working in SHGs in Uttarakhand in India. Thematic analysis was done to analyse the data till the saturation level was reached. Findings: Despite several socio-economic developments worldwide, women still fall among some of the most vulnerable communities, unable to access resources at par with men. Thus, women's empowerment emerges as a theme central to sustainable development. MFIs are looking to empower women by increasing their savings habits. There are consistent efforts on the part of the government to formalize the system of SHGs and give them additional financial support by creating a proper link between the banking system and SHGs. We also need technology and innovation for creating financial literacy among women. Women's empowerment cannot be achieved unless they are involved in financial inclusion by creating awareness. Originality/value: The research focuses on people's socio-economic development, especially women living in hilly and rural areas within the specific context of Uttarakhand in India. This research will provide an opportunity for strategic approaches and reveal the areas where government needs to focus for sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Rural homestays have emerged as an interesting option for tourists. This study aims to assess the role of destination attractiveness factors and travel motivations in homestay choice. The moderating role of need for uniqueness towards enhancing these relationships is also examined. Design/methodology/approach: A survey of 201 Indian tourists who had visited rural homestays in the Uttarakhand state of India was conducted. Data were analyzed using SPSS and WarpPLS, based on structural equation modelling approach. Findings: Results indicate that two destination attractiveness factors – (a) cultural and rural attractions and (b) destination location and transportation – have a significant association with rural homestay choice. Further, need for uniqueness enhances the relationship between natural attractions and choosing rural homestays. Originality/value: Although there are several studies on rural homestays, there is scant research on the factors influencing the choice of rural homestays from a tourists' perspective. Besides, studies on rural homestay tourism have not assessed the role of need for uniqueness in influencing such choices. The implications of the study for destination marketers, homestay operators and owners are discussed which would hopefully aid in attracting discerning tourists to the rural homestays to such regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The study aims to highlight fundamental causes and effects of disasters in the northern district of Uttarkashi, which lies in the fragile mountains of Himalaya. Disasters such as the 1991 Uttarkashi Earthquake, the flash floods of the Bhagirathi river and the devastation caused by the Gyansu landslide are discussed. Design/methodology/approach - The following approach was used for this study: precise geographical location of the various landslides was marked through Global Positioning System Receiver (GPS); landslide types were identified based on activity (active or old) and debris flow slide and rock fall were marked based on the sliding material and slope condition; the land use/land cover pattern of Varunawat Parvat was also assessed; the vulnerability of population, houses and infrastructure etc. was listed; the condition of existing stability measures, e.g. check dams and drains, was assessed; and slide-specific mitigation measures were suggested. Findings - The Himalayan state of Uttaranchal has been witnessing the fury of nature for a long time. In recent years there has been an increase in the frequency of natural disasters. Earthquakes, landslides, cloudbursts and flash floods have caused great damage to life and property in various parts of the state. The Himalayan orogenic belt is tectonically active and subject to modifications by natural processes. Adding further to the fragility of this belt are the anthropogenic activities like the unplanned cutting of slope for construction activity, blasting of highly jointed rock mass for road construction and unplanned disposal of the slope cut debris material. Research limitations/implications - The study is based on the data/information collected during the monsoon season from 15 June to 15 September 2003. The period is short for developing any hypothesis but sufficient care has been taken to consider vital factors. Practical implications - A calamity of rare severity requires a high level of recovery and management. Sound mitigation mechanism helps the Government and the community to tackle the problem immediately and efficiently. Originality/value - The study highlights fundamental causes and effects of the landslide and suggests steps to overcome them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]